Russia Definitions - How did the Bolsheviks establish a one-party state between 1917 and 1924?

A term used by Karl Marx to denote the industrial workers, a new class that had emerged as a result of the Industrial Revolution.

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Bourgeoisie

The owners of factories, industries and shops, that is, those who own the means of production.

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Dictatorship of the proletariat

A government that rules on behalf of the working class. It would take over the reins of power and use the power to smash the bourgeoisie and prevent counter-revolution.

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Constituent Assembly

A parliament elected by the people of Russia. It was seen by many politicians as the first step in forming a democratically elected government.

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Whites

Those opposed to the Bolsheviks during the civil war of 1918-20. The Whites were largely conservative groups within Russia who didn't want the old social order changed.

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Reds

The Bolsheviks and their supporters. The Bolshevik forces were known as the Red Army. Bolshevik support was made up of the industrial workers and many peasants who saw the Bolsheviks as the best guarantors of their grains from the Revolution.

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Kronstadt Mutiny (1921)

The mutiny of sailors stationed at the Kronstadt naval base against the imposition of orders on the local soviet from the Bolshevik government. Their slogan was 'Soviets without Bolsheviks'.

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Tambov Rising (1920 - 1921)

A peasant uprising in the Tambov region of central Russia that was sparked off by the arrival of Bolshevik units to requisition grain for use in the cities and the army.

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Trade union

An organisation that represented workers' interests according to trade (e.g. railway workers or steel workers).

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Factory committee

A small group that represented workers within a particular factory and often contained workers with different trades but who were based in the same workplace.

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Bureaucracy

The civil service (administrators) who administer government policy.

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Nomenklatura system

A system of appointing people to jobs from a list approved by the Party leadership. Evidence of commitment to the Party cause was necessary in order to remain on the list.

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USSR

Union of Soviet Socialist Republics - official name of the area controlled by the Communist Party, sometimes referred to as the Soviet Union. It was established in 1922.

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OGPU

The All-Union State Political Administration. Its actions were brought under greater supervision by the state to ensure that it worked within the law. Its continuity in duty was stressed by the selection of Dzerzhinsky (was head of Cheka) as leader.

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Chistka

Russian term for cleansing. It is applied to the purges of Party members that occurred periodically under Lenin. They were non-violent, and those who were 'cleansed' had their Party membership withdrawn.